Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus including same

ABSTRACT

A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feeding tray, a first moving assembly, and a second moving assembly. The sheet feeding tray accommodates a sheet. The first moving assembly moves the sheet feeding tray in a sheet feeding direction. The second moving assembly moves the sheet feeding tray in a direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35U.S.C. §119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-129317, filed onJun. 26, 2015, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a sheet feeding device andan image forming apparatus including the sheet feeding device.

Related Art

Conventionally, sheet feeding devices are known, which include a sheetfeeding tray movable between a position where a sheet of paper is takenin and out and a position where the sheet is fed to an image formingapparatus, and which feeds the sheets accommodated in the sheet feedingtray to the image forming apparatus sheet by sheet.

Usually, an image forming apparatus requires a use space including aninstallation space where an apparatus body is installed and a work spacewhere the operator can perform work of taking in and out the sheetoutside the apparatus body. Further, the apparatus body requires atleast an inner space in which a sheet feeding tray and a sheet feed pathfor conveying the sheet from the sheet feeding tray in the sheet feedingdirection are provided, and thus a plan shape of the apparatus body isoften long in the sheet feeding direction.

SUMMARY

In an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a sheetfeeding device that includes a sheet feeding tray, a first movingassembly, and a second moving assembly. The sheet feeding trayaccommodates a sheet. The first moving assembly moves the sheet feedingtray in a sheet feeding direction. The second moving assembly moves thesheet feeding tray in a direction intersecting with the sheet feedingdirection

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned and other aspects, features, and advantages of thepresent disclosure would be better understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a configuration of an image formingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a schematic configurationof a sheet feeding device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a state in which sheet isjammed on a sheet feed path while straddling a sheet feeding tray and anapparatus body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a straddling jammed sheetremoval operation in the sheet feeding device;

FIG. 4B is a side view of the sheet feeding device as viewed from theapparatus body;

FIG. 5A is a schematic cross-sectional view of straddling jammed sheetremoval processing in the sheet feeding device;

FIG. 5B is a side view of the sheet feeding device as viewed from theapparatus body;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a structure of a sheet feeding tray;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a partial structure of the sheetfeeding tray;

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the straddling jammedsheet removal processing in the sheet feeding device;

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of straddling jammed sheetremoval processing in a sheet feeding device according to variation 1 ofthe above-described embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of straddling jammed sheetremoval processing in a sheet feeding device according to variation 2 ofthe above-described embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a straddling jammed sheet removal processingoperation in the sheet feeding device according to the variation 2 ofthe above-described embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of straddling jammed sheetremoval processing in a sheet feeding device according to variation 3 ofthe above-described embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a straddling jammed sheet removal processingoperation in the sheet feeding device according to the variation 3 ofthe above-described embodiment; and

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a straddling jammed sheet removal processingoperation in a sheet feeding device according to variation 4 of theabove-described embodiment.

The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of thepresent disclosure and should not be interpreted to limit the scopethereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn toscale unless explicitly noted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specificterminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosureof this patent specification is not intended to be limited to thespecific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that eachspecific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in asimilar manner and achieve similar results.

Although the embodiments are described with technical limitations withreference to the attached drawings, such description is not intended tolimit the scope of the disclosure and all of the components or elementsdescribed in the embodiments of this disclosure are not necessarilyindispensable.

Referring now to the drawings, embodiments of the present disclosure aredescribed below. In the drawings for explaining the followingembodiments, the same reference codes are allocated to elements (membersor components) having the same function or shape and redundantdescriptions thereof are omitted below.

Hereinafter, a tandem-type color laser copier in which a plurality ofphotoconductors is arranged side by side is described below as an imageforming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a configuration of an image formingapparatus 1000 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Theimage forming apparatus 1000 includes a printer unit 100, a sheetfeeding device 200 mounting the printer unit 100 thereon, a scanner 300secured on the printer unit 100, and the like. Further, the imageforming apparatus 1000 includes an automatic document feeder 400 securedon the scanner 300.

The printer unit 100 includes an image forming unit 20 made of four setsof process cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K for forming images of fourcolors including yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Y, M,C, and K attached to the respective reference numerals indicate membersfor yellow, cyan, magenta, and black (the same applies to the followingdescription).

In addition to the process cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K, an opticalwriting unit 21, an intermediate transfer unit 17, a secondary transferdevice 22, paired registration rollers 49, a belt fixing-type fixingdevice 25, and the like are disposed.

The optical writing unit 21 includes a light source, a polygon mirror, af-θ lens, a reflection mirror, and the like, and irradiates surfaces ofphotoconductors described below with laser light based on an image data.

Here, configurations of the respective process cartridges 18 are nearlythe same. Therefore, hereinafter, the attached suffixes (Y, C, M, and K)for distinguishing the colors are omitted in the following description,and a configuration and an operation of the process cartridge 18 aredescribed. The process cartridge 18 is mounted to the apparatus body bybeing inserted into a mount space in the apparatus body from a frontside to a depth side of the device. The process cartridge 18 includes adrum-shaped photoconductor 1, a drum cleaning unit arranged around thephotoconductor 1, a charging unit and a developing device 4. A radiatingportion is formed on a side surface of a developing casing of thedeveloping device 4.

The developing device 4 includes a developing device as a developerbearer that supplies a toner to a latent image bearer on a surface ofthe photoconductor 1 and develops an image while moving on the surface,and a developing casing that forms a developer container in which atwo-component developer made of the toner and a carrier is stored. Thedeveloping device includes a magnet roller made of a plurality ofmagnets fixed inside, and a cylindrical developing sleeve that containsthe magnet roller and is made of a non-magnetic material rotated aroundthe magnet roller. The developing sleeve is rotated around the magnetroller that forms a plurality of magnetic poles, so that the developeris moved on the developing device with the rotation.

When developing bias is applied from a developing power source as adeveloping bias applicator to the developing sleeve of the developingdevice, a developing electric field is formed between the developingsleeve and the photoconductor 1 in a developing region. With thisdeveloping electric field, the toner in the developer on a surface ofthe developing sleeve is supplied to the latent image bearer on thesurface of the photoconductor 1, and the latent image bearer on thephotoconductor 1 is developed, in the developing region.

The surface of the photoconductor 1 is uniformly charged by a chargingunit as a charging device. The surface of the photoconductor 1, to whichthe charging processing is applied, is irradiated with the laser lightmodulated and deflected by the optical writing unit 21. Then, apotential of the irradiated portion (exposed portion) is decayed. Withthis decay, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface ofthe photoconductor 1. The formed electrostatic latent image is developedby the developing device 4 as a developing unit and becomes a tonerimage.

The toner image formed on the photoconductor 1 is primarily transferredto an intermediate transfer belt 110 described below. A post-transferresidual toner on the surface of the photoconductor 1 after the primarytransfer is cleaned with a cleaning blade. Charge of the cleanedphotoconductor 1 is removed by a charge remover. Then, thephotoconductor 1 is uniformly charged by the charging unit, and isreturned to an initial state.

The above series of processes are similar among the process cartridges18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K.

Next, the intermediate transfer unit is described using FIG. 1. Theintermediate transfer unit 17 includes the intermediate transfer belt110, a belt cleaning device 90, and the like. Further, the intermediatetransfer unit 17 includes a transfer stretching roller 14, a transferdrive roller 15, a secondary-transfer backup roller 16, four primarytransfer bias rollers 62Y, 62M, 62C, and 62K, and the like.

The intermediate transfer belt 110 is stretched taut by a plurality ofrollers including the transfer stretching roller 14. Then, theintermediate transfer belt 110 is endlessly moved in a clockwisedirection in FIG. 1 by rotation of the transfer drive roller 15 drivenby a belt drive motor.

The four primary transfer bias rollers 62Y, 62M, 62C, and 62K aredisposed to be in contact with an inner circumferential face side of theintermediate transfer belt 110, and receive application of primarytransfer bias from a power supply. Further, the primary transfer biasrollers 62Y, 62M, 62C, and 62K press the intermediate transfer belt 110against the photoconductors 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K from the innercircumferential face side to respectively form primary transfer nips. Ineach of the primary transfer nips, a primary-transfer electric field isformed between the photoconductor and the primary transfer bias rollerdue to influence of the primary transfer bias.

A Y toner image formed on the photoconductor 1Y for yellow is primarilytransferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 110 due to influence ofthe primary-transfer electric field and nipping pressure. M, C, and Ktoner images formed on the photoconductors 1M, 1C, and 1K for magenta,cyan, and black are sequentially superimposed and primarily transferredon the Y toner image. With this primary transfer of superimposition, afour-color superimposed toner image as a multiple toner image(hereinafter, referred to as four-color toner image) is formed on theintermediate transfer belt 110.

The four-color toner image superimposed and transferred onto theintermediate transfer belt 110 is secondarily transferred to a sheet ofpaper that is a recording medium with a secondary transfer nip describedbelow. The post-transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of theintermediate transfer belt 110 after passage of the secondary transfernip is cleaned with the belt cleaning device 90 that nips the beltbetween the belt cleaning device 90 and the transfer drive roller 15 onthe left side in FIG. 1.

Next, the secondary transfer device 22 is described. The secondarytransfer device 22 that stretches the sheet conveyance belt 24 with thetwo stretching rollers 23 is disposed below the intermediate transferunit 17 in FIG. 1. The sheet conveyance belt 24 is endlessly moved in ananti-clockwise direction in FIG. 1 with rotation and drive of at leastone of the stretching rollers 23.

One of the two stretching rollers 23, which is disposed on the rightside in FIG. 1, nips the intermediate transfer belt 110 and the sheetconveyance belt 24 between the stretching roller 23 and thesecondary-transfer backup roller 16 of the intermediate transfer unit17. With the nip, a secondary transfer nip where the intermediatetransfer belt 110 of the intermediate transfer unit 17 and the sheetconveyance belt 24 of the secondary transfer device 22 are in contactwith each other.

Then, secondary transfer bias, which has a polarity opposite to thetoner, is applied to this one stretching roller 23 by a power supply.With this application of the secondary transfer bias, asecondary-transfer backup electric field that electrostatically movesthe four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 110 of theintermediate transfer unit 17 from the belt side toward the otherstretching roller 23 side is formed in the secondary transfer nip.

The four-color toner image subject to the influence of thesecondary-transfer backup electric field and the nipping pressure issecondarily transferred to the sheet sent by the paired registrationrollers 49 described below to the secondary transfer nip insynchronization with the four-color toner image on the intermediatetransfer belt 110.

Note that a charger that charges the sheet in a non-contact manner maybe provided, in place of the secondary transfer system that applies thesecondary transfer bias to one of the stretching rollers 23, asdescribed above.

A plurality of sheet feeding cassettes 44 that can accommodate aplurality of sheets in a state of a bundle of sheets is layered anddisposed in a vertical direction in the sheet feeding device 200provided below the apparatus body.

Each of the sheet feeding cassettes 44 presses a sheet feeding roller 42against the top sheet of the bundle of sheets. Then, the sheet feedingroller 42 is rotated to send the top sheet toward a sheet feed path 46.

The sheet feed path 46 that receives the sheet sent from the sheetfeeding cassette 44 includes a plurality of paired feed rollers 47, andpaired registration rollers 49 provided near the end of the sheet feedpath 46. Then, the sheet feed path 46 conveys the sheet toward thepaired registration rollers 49. The sheet conveyed toward the pairedregistration rollers 49 is nipped between the rollers of the pairedregistration rollers 49.

Meanwhile, the four-color toner image formed on the intermediatetransfer belt 110 proceeds in the secondary transfer nip with theendless movement of the belt, in the intermediate transfer unit 17. Thepaired registration rollers 49 feeds the sheet nipped between therollers at timing when the sheet can be stuck to the four-color tonerimage in the secondary transfer nip. Accordingly, in the secondarytransfer nip, the four-color toner image on the intermediate transferbelt 110 is stuck to the sheet. Then, the image is secondarilytransferred onto the sheet to become a full-color image on the whitesheet.

The sheet on which the full-color image is formed as described abovepasses the secondary transfer nip with the endless movement of the sheetconveyance belt 24, and is then sent from the sheet conveyance belt 24to the fixing device 25.

The fixing device 25 includes a belt unit that endlessly move the fixingbelt 26 while stretching the fixing belt 26 with two rollers, and apressure roller 27 that is pressed toward one of the rollers of the beltunit.

The fixing belt 26 and the pressure roller 27 are mutually in contactand form a fixing nip, and nip the sheet received from the sheetconveyance belt 24.

The roller pressed by the pressure roller 27, of the two rollers in thebelt unit, includes a heat source therein, and heats and presses thefixing belt 26 with heat generation. The pressurized fixing belt 26heats the sheet nipped in the fixing nip. The full-color image is fixedto the sheet due to influence of the heat and the nipping pressure.

The sheet to which the fixing processing is applied in the fixing device25 is stacked on a stacker 57 provided outside a left side plate in FIG.1 of a printer housing, or is returned to the secondary transfer nip forforming the toner image on the other surface.

When a document is copied, a bundle of document sheets is set on adocument table 30 of the automatic document feeder 400.

Note that, in a case of bound documents, which are bound in a bookmanner, the documents are set to an exposure glass 32. Prior to thissetting, the automatic document feeder 400 is opened from the apparatusbody, and the exposure glass 32 of the scanner 300 is exposed. Afterthat, the bound documents are pressed by the automatic document feeder400.

After the documents are set as described above, and when a copy startswitch is pressed, a document reading operation by the scanner 300 isstarted.

However, when the document sheet is set to the automatic document feeder400, the automatic document feeder 400 automatically moves the documentsheet to the exposure glass 32, prior to the document reading operation.

In the document reading operation, first, both of a first mover 33 and asecond mover 34 start to travel, and light is emitted from a lightsource provided in the first mover 33. Then, reflection light from adocument surface is reflected by a mirror provided in the second mover34, passes through an imaging lens 35, and is incident on a readingsensor 36. The reading sensor 36 builds image information based on theincident light.

In parallel to such a document reading operation, devices in the processcartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K, the intermediate transfer unit 17,the secondary transfer device 22, and the fixing device 25 startdriving.

Then, the optical writing unit 21 is driven and controlled based on theimage information built by the reading sensor 36, and the Y, M, C, and Ktoner images are formed on the respective photoconductors 1Y, 1M, 1C,and 1K. These toner images becomes the four-color toner imagesuperimposed and transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 110.

Further, at nearly the same time with the start of the document readingoperation, a sheet feeding operation is started in the sheet feedingdevice 200. In this sheet feeding operation, one of the sheet feedingrollers 42 is selected and rotated, and the sheets are sent out from oneof the sheet feeding cassettes 44 accommodated in a paper bank 43 in amultistage manner. The sent sheets are separated in a separation roller45 sheet by sheet, and proceeds to the sheet feed path 46, and then isconveyed by the paired feed rollers 47 toward the secondary transfernip.

Sheet feeding from a bypass tray 51 may be performed, in place of thesheet feeding from the sheet feeding cassette 44. In this case, afterthe bypass feeding roller 50 is selected and rotated to send the sheetson the bypass tray 51, a separation roller 52 separates the sheets sheetby sheet, and feeds the sheet to a bypass sheet feed path 53 of theprinter unit 100.

In a case where a multi-color image made of two or more colors of tonersis formed, the image forming apparatus 1000 stretches the intermediatetransfer belt 110 in a posture where an upper stretched face of theintermediate transfer belt 110 becomes nearly parallel, and brings allof the photoconductors 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K into contact with the upperstretched face.

In contrast, in a case where a monochromatic image made of only the Ktoner is formed, the image forming apparatus 1000 causes theintermediate transfer belt 110 to take a posture of being inclinedleftward in FIG. 1 by a mechanism, and separates the upper stretchedface from the photoconductors 1Y, 1M, and 1C for yellow, magenta, andcyan.

Then, the image forming apparatus 1000 rotates only the photoconductor1K for black, of the four photoconductors 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, in ananti-clockwise direction in FIG. 1, and forms only the K toner image. Atthis time, as for yellow, magenta, and cyan, not only the photoconductor1, but also the developing device is stopped, to prevent unnecessaryconsumption of the photoconductor 1 and the developer.

The image forming apparatus 1000 includes a controller 150 including acentral processing unit (CPU) that controls the devices below in theimage forming apparatus 1000 and the like, and an operation display unitincluding a liquid crystal display, various key buttons, and the like.

The operator can select one of three simplex print modes in which animage is formed only one side of the sheet by sending an instruction tothe controller 150 with a key input operation to the operation displayunit. The three simplex print modes include a direct ejection mode, areverse ejection mode, and a reverse decurling ejection mode.

Next, the sheet feeding device according to the present embodiment isdescribed.

First, an example of a sheet feeding device according to the presentembodiment is described. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of aconfiguration of the sheet feeding device according to the presentembodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the sheet feeding device 200includes a sheet feeding tray 201 that is slidable in the sheet feedingdirection between a position where a sheet P is taken in and out and aposition where the sheet is fed to an apparatus body 500, and isslidable in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction.The slide direction is not limited to the direction perpendicular to thesheet feed ding direction, and may be a direction intersecting with thesheet feeding direction. Further, the sheet feeding device 200 includesa feed roller 202 that feeds the sheet P to the apparatus body 500 sideand a sheet pressing arm 203 as a pressor that presses the sheet Pagainst a tray base 201 a of the sheet feeding tray 201.

Then, a pair of side fences 201 b that holds and guides the sheet Paccording to the size of the sheet P from both sides in the directionperpendicular to the sheet feeding direction is provided in the sheetfeeding tray 201. The sheet P is conveyed by the feed roller 202 to adownstream side in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow A inFIG. 2 through a sheet feeding port 500 a of the apparatus body 500. Apair of first guide rails 201 c as a first moving assembly that guidesthe sheet feeding tray 201 in the sheet feeding direction is provided ata back side of a bottom plate of the sheet feeding tray 201.

Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 4B and 5B, a pair of second guide rails201 g as a second moving assembly that guides the sheet feeding tray 201in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction is alsoprovided at the back side of the bottom plate of the sheet feeding tray201. Note that, at the apparatus body 500 side, paired separationrollers 501 that separate the sheets P fed by the feed roller 202 sheetby sheet is provided. These paired separation rollers 501 is made of afirst roller that comes in contact with a front face of the sheet P andconveys the sheet P to the downstream side in the sheet feedingdirection, and a second roller that comes in contact with the back faceof the sheet P and is rotated to return the sheet P to the upstream sidein the sheet feeding direction.

Further, a sheet pressing arm 203 is held by an arm holder 204, and ismoved up and down with respect to the upper surface of the sheet P topress the sheet P, or cancel the pressing. To be specific, when slidingto the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow Bin FIG. 2, the sheet pressing arm 203 is lowered by a mechanism of thearm-swing control cam 205 secured to the housing and presses the uppersurface of the sheet P. At that time, the arm holder 204 is also movedtogether with the tray base 201 a of the sheet feeding tray 201.Meanwhile, when sliding to the downstream side in the sheet feedingdirection indicated by arrow A in FIG. 2, the sheet pressing arm 203 israised by the mechanism of the arm-swing control cam 205, and thepressing to the upper surface of the sheet P is cancelled.

Further, the sheet feeding tray 201 includes a tray side cover 201 d anda tray front cover 201 e, and a tray handle 201 f is attached to thetray front cover 201 e. Note that the arm-swing control cam 205 may beswitched by a mechanical cam or may be electrically switched by a motoror the like.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a state in which the sheetis jammed on the sheet feed path in a state of straddling the sheetfeeding tray and the apparatus body. As illustrated in FIG. 3, there isa possibility that the sheet P is jammed on the sheet feed path in astate of straddling the sheet feeding tray 201 and the apparatus body500 due to a set state of the sheet P or a delay of feed timing of thesheet P. To be specific, the jammed sheet (hereinafter, referred tostraddling jammed sheet) P remains in a state of straddling the feedroller 202 and the paired separation rollers 501, and is in a so-calledstraddling jammed state. In this state, when the operator slides thetray handle 201 f in a direction of pulling the sheet feeding trayindicated by arrow C in FIG. 3, the straddling jammed sheet P interfereswith the housing of the apparatus body 500 and the like and is torn, andthe torn sheet remains on the sheet feed path. This remaining sheet isreferred to as remaining sheet. In some cases, the remaining sheet maybe led to another failure. For example, when the sheet feeding tray ispulled out, the remaining sheet may be dropped behind the sheet feedingtray. In this case, in a case of the sheet feeding device that cannot betaken out from the apparatus body, a service person needs to handle thefailure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams of a straddling jammed sheet removaloperation in the sheet feeding device according to the presentembodiment. FIG. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sheetfeeding device and FIG. 4B is a side view of the sheet feeding device asviewed from the apparatus body side. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, thesheet pressing arm 203 is supported by a rotation axis 203 a. When thesheet jam in the straddling jammed state occurs, the sheet pressing arm203 is rotated and lowered around the rotation axis 203 aby themechanism of the arm-swing control cam 205, and presses the straddlingjammed sheet P on the tray base 201 a from above. In this state, theoperator moves the tray handle 201 f illustrated in FIG. 4A to theupstream side in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow B inFIG. 4A, and slides the sheet feeding tray 201 along the pair of firstguide rails 201 c. Accordingly, the straddling jammed sheet P can bepulled out of the sheet feeding port 500 a of the apparatus body 500 inconjunction with the slide of the sheet feeding tray 201 withoutrequiring labor to manually pull out the straddling jammed sheet P bythe operator. Note that, as for an amount to pull out the sheet, thestraddling jammed sheet P can be pulled out as long as the amountcorresponds the length of one sheet in the sheet feeding direction.However, the amount may be a moving amount to move a leading end portionof the straddling jammed sheet P at the downstream side in the sheetfeeding direction to an upstream side in the sheet feeding directionwith respect to a boundary of the sheet feeding tray 201 and theapparatus body 500. To be specific, the amount corresponds to the lengthof the sheet stretched to the apparatus body side in the sheet feedingdirection, and is smaller than the length of one sheet in the speedfeeding direction. Further, if the sheet feeding tray 201 can be movedin the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction in a statewhere the sheet feeding tray 201 is moved to the upstream side in thesheet feeding direction, the sheet feeding tray 201 is moved to theupstream side in the sheet feeding direction and the straddling jammedsheet P is pulled out of the apparatus body 500, and then, in the state,the sheet feeding tray 201 may be pulled out in the direction indicatedby arrow C in FIG. 4A.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams of straddling jammed sheet removalprocessing in the sheet feeding device of the example. FIG. 5A is aschematic cross-sectional view of the sheet feeding device and FIG. 5Bis a side view of the sheet feeding device as viewed from the apparatusbody. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a structure of the sheet feedingtray. FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a partial structure of thesheet feeding tray. The operator slides the sheet feeding tray 201 asillustrated in FIG. 5 to the downstream side in the sheet feedingdirection indicated by arrow A in FIG. 5 along the pair of first guiderails 201 c from the state of the sheet feeding tray 201 illustrated inFIG. 4, to return the sheet feeding tray 201 to the position where thesheet is fed to the apparatus body 500. At this time, the pressing tothe straddling jammed sheet P by the sheet pressing arm 203 is cancelledin advance by the mechanism of the arm-swing control cam 205.

Further, the leading end portion of the straddling jammed sheet P at thedownstream side in the sheet feeding direction is butted against the nipand the roller surface of the paired separation rollers 501, thereby notto follow the slide of the sheet feeding tray 201 to the downstream sidein the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 5. Thepaired separation rollers 501 serve a function as a stopper. Further,the tray base 201 a presses the straddling jammed sheet P to the feedroller 202 in a state where a pressure rotation shaft 206 is coupledwith a lifting cam assembly 502, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. Then,the straddling jammed sheet P is relatively moved with respect to theslide of the sheet feeding tray 201 to the downstream side in the sheetfeeding direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 5. Accordingly, thestraddling jammed sheet P is accommodated inside the sheet feeding tray201 in a case where the sheet feeding tray 201 is returned to theposition where the sheet is fed to the apparatus body 500.

Here, to convey the sheet P on the sheet feeding tray 201, the sheet Pon the sheet feeding tray 201 is raised and is pressed against the feedroller 202, and the feed roller 202 is rotated, so that the sheet Pbecomes conveyable. There is a method of raising the tray base 201 a bya motor or the like and a method of raising the tray base 201 a by thecam assembly and the pressure spring when the sheet feeding tray ispressed in the direction of being set to the apparatus body. The exampleemploys the latter method. To be specific, when the sheet feeding tray201 is set to the image forming apparatus, a connection pin 206 a of thepressure rotation shaft 206 at the sheet feeding tray 201 side isinserted into a groove provided in a rotation shaft of the lifting camassembly 502 at the apparatus body side. At that time, force in anextending direction of a pressure spring 503 attached to a liftingmechanism supporting member 504 secured to the housing of the apparatusbody or the like is applied to the pressure rotation shaft 206 due tothe shape of the groove of the lifting cam assembly 502. The pressurerotation shaft 206 is coupled with the tray base 201 a, and the traybase 201 a rises by spring force (contraction force) of the pressurespring 503. Therefore, the sheet P rises and is pressed against the feedroller 202, and becomes a feedable state. When the sheet feeding tray201 is pulled out of the apparatus body 500, the pressure rotation shaft206 is pulled up from the lifting cam assembly 502, and the tray base201 a is lowered to the bottom surface of the sheet feeding tray 201 byits own weight. Further, in FIG. 3, when the tray base 201 a is moved tothe upstream side in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow B inFIG. 3, the pressure rotation shaft 206 is pulled out from the liftingcam assembly 502.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of straddling jammed sheetremoval processing in the sheet feeding device according to the presentembodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the operator pulls the tray handle201 f to a front side (the direction perpendicular to the sheet feedingdirection). Then, the sheet feeding tray 201 in which the entirestraddling jammed sheet P is accommodated is pulled out in the frontdirection indicated by arrow C in FIG. 8 along the pair of second guiderails 201 g illustrated in FIGS. 4B and 5B. Accordingly, the straddlingjammed sheet P can be pulled out without interfering with the housing ofthe apparatus body 500 and the like. At this time, as illustrated inFIG. 7, the pressure rotation shaft 206 is pulled up from the liftingcam assembly 502, and the tray base 201 a is lowered to the bottomsurface of the sheet feeding tray 201 by its own weight. Note that, whenthe sheet feeding tray 201 in which the entire straddling jammed sheet Pis accommodated is pulled out, the straddling jammed sheet P is notnecessarily pressed by the sheet pressing arm 203. However, by pressingthe straddling jammed sheet P, the straddling jammed sheet Paccommodated in the sheet feeding tray 201 can be reliably pulled out.According to the example, even if the sheet feeding tray is pulled outin the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction, thestraddling jammed sheet does not interfere with the apparatus body andthus is not torn. Therefore, processing work to remove the torn sheetand work to treat the another failure caused by the torn sheet becomeunnecessary, and simplification of the sheet jam processing work can beimproved.

Variation 1

Next, a variation (hereinafter, this variation is referred to as“variation 1”) of a sheet feeding device according to the presentembodiment is described. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view ofstraddling jammed sheet removal processing in the sheet feeding deviceaccording to variation 1 of the present embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 9, a remaining sheet sensor 401 that detects whether a straddlingjammed sheet P exists on a sheet feed path is provided between a sheetfeeding tray 201 and an apparatus body 500 in a sheet feeding device 200of the variation 1. Usually, determination of a sheet jam of the sheet Pis performed such that a sheet ejection sensor is provided at a sheetejection port, and when the sheet ejection sensor cannot detect thesheet at sheet ejection timing, the sheet ejection sensor determinesthat the sheet jam of the sheet ejection has occurred, and passage ofsheets is stopped. At that time, when the remaining sheet sensor 401detects the sheet P, the remaining sheet sensor 401 determines that thestraddling jam has occurred. When the remaining sheet sensor 401 doesnot detect the sheet, the remaining sheet sensor 401 determines that thesheet jam of sheet ejection in another place has occurred. When it isdetermined that there is a remaining sheet by the remaining sheet sensor401 after the sheet jam of sheet ejection is determined with such adetector, sheet jam display or a display light emitting diode (LED) islighted on a liquid crystal display (LCD) on an operation panel.Alternatively, a voice announce or a guide display notifying that “astraddling jam has occurred, please move the sheet feeding tray in thehorizontal direction and remove the straddling jam” is output, andremoval processing of the jammed sheet is prompted. After the processingis executed, no sheet remains in the remaining sheet sensor. Therefore,a voice announce or a guide display notifying that “the straddling jamhas been removed, so the sheet feeding tray can be pulled out” isoutput. Accordingly, the sheet feeding tray can be prevented from beingwrongly pulled out in a front direction at the time of occurrence of thestraddling jam.

Variation 2

Next, another variation (hereinafter, this variation is referred to as“variation 2”) of a sheet feeding device according to the presentembodiment is described. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view ofstraddling jammed sheet removal processing in the sheet feeding deviceaccording to variation 2 of the present embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 10, in a sheet feeding device 600 of the variation 2, a firstposition sensor 601 and a second position sensor 602 that detect apredetermined position of a sheet feeding tray 201 are provided, inaddition to the remaining sheet sensor 401 in the sheet feeding deviceof the variation 1. The first position sensor 601 is a sensor thatdetects the position of the sheet feeding tray 201 that feeds a sheet toan apparatus body 500. Meanwhile, the second position sensor 602 is asensor that detects the position of the sheet feeding tray 201 when thesheet feeding tray 201 is slid along a pair of first guide rails 201 cat the maximum to the left side in FIG. 10. Further, a tray drive motor603 as a drive source for sliding the sheet feeding tray 201 in a sheetfeeding direction, and a lock solenoid 604 as a restrictor that allows(cancels the restriction of)/does not allow (restricts) slide of thesheet feeding tray 201 in a front direction. Then, the tray drive motor603 and the lock solenoid 604 are controlled by the controller 150. Notethat the tray drive motor 603 may be a stepping motor or a DC motor. Thelock solenoid 604 includes, for example, a hook in a movable member, andthe hook is hooked on a housing of the sheet feeding tray, so that theslide of the sheet feeding tray 201 to the front side is restricted. Onthe other hand, when the hook is unhooked, the slide of the sheetfeeding tray 201 to the front side becomes available. From the above,even if a straddling jam occurs, cancellation is automatically performedwithout bothering an operator, and the sheet feeding tray cannot bewrongly pulled out during the cancellation. Therefore, mechanical damageduring the cancellation of the straddling jam can be prevented.

Note that, when removal of a remaining sheet is performed by sliding thesheet feeding tray 201 to an upstream side in the sheet feedingdirection indicated by arrow B in FIG. 10, the remaining sheet sensor401 is confirmed again, assuming a case where the remaining sheet cannotbe removed at one time. It is more reliable to employ a method ofrepeating the above operation again when it is determined that there isa remaining sheet, to remove the remaining sheet. Further, since thestraddling jam is detected and automatically removed, alert display or avoice announce notifying the operator that “a straddling jam hasoccurred, so cancellation is in progress” is output to an LCD on anoperation panel. It is necessary to cause the sheet feeding tray not tobe pulled out in the front direction when the sheet feeding tray is slidin the sheet feeding direction, Further, it is necessary to lock thesheet feeding tray 201 not to be pulled out in the front direction,using the lock solenoid 604.

Next, a straddling jammed sheet removal processing operation in thesheet feeding device according to the variation 2 is described accordingto the operation flow of FIG. 11. When feeding of the sheet P is startedin FIG. 11, the sheet feeding tray 201 of FIG. 10 is locked with thelock solenoid 604 so as not to be pulled out in the front direction(steps S101 and S102). Then, a sheet jam of the sheet P occurs, drive ofthe feed roller 202 is stopped, and the feeding of the sheet P isstopped (steps S103 and S104). When the straddling jam is determinedwith the remaining sheet sensor 401 (YES in step S105, step S106), anarm-swing control cam 205 is switched, and the straddling jammed sheet Pis pressed by a sheet pressing arm 203 from above (step S107). Then, thetray drive motor 603 is driven by the controller 150, the sheet feedingtray 201 is slid to the upstream side in the sheet feeding directionindicated by arrow B in FIG. 10 until the second position sensor 602detects the sheet feeding tray 201, and the straddling jammed sheet P ispulled out through a sheet feeding port 500 a of the apparatus body 500(step S108, YES in S109, and step S110).

Following that, the arm-swing control cam 205 is switched, and thepressing to the jammed sheet P by the sheet pressing arm 203 iscancelled (step S111). Then, the tray drive motor 603 is driven by thecontroller 150, the sheet feeding tray 201 is slit to a downstream sidein the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 10 until thefirst position sensor 601 detects the sheet feeding tray 201, and thesheet feeding tray 201 is returned to a position where the sheet is fedto the apparatus body 500 (step S112, YES in S113, and step S114).Accordingly, the straddling jammed sheet P is accommodated in the sheetfeeding tray 201.

Following that, the lock is cancelled by the lock solenoid 604 so thatthe sheet feeding tray 201 can be pulled out in the front directionalong a pair of second guide rails 201 g (step S115). When thestraddling jam is not determined with the remaining sheet sensor 401 instep S105, the controller 150 determines a sheet jam other than thestraddling jam has occurred, that is, a sheet jam has occurred in adifferent place from a sheet feed path between the sheet feeding tray201 and the apparatus body 500 (NO in step S105 and step S116). Notethat a tray base 201 a is also operated up and down in accordance withthe operation of the sheet feeding tray 201. Therefore, the straddlingjammed sheet removal processing is automatically executed withoutgenerating a sheet residual by the remaining sheet.

Variation 3

Next, another variation (hereinafter, this variation is referred to as“variation 3”) of a sheet feeding device according to the presentembodiment is described. FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view ofstraddling jammed sheet removal processing in the sheet feeding deviceaccording to variation 3 of the present embodiment. In variation 3, whena sheet is stopped at a remaining sheet sensor 401 and becomes astraddling jam, the controller 150 calculates a sheet feed distance froma send amount (drive amount) of a feed roller 202, for the sheet P sentfrom a sheet feeding tray 201. For example, since the sheet P is alwaysconveyed in a sheet ejection direction at the same speed, if the feedroller 202 is driven by a stepping motor, the controller 150 calculatesthe sheet feed distance with a drive pulse amount from when thestraddling jam is detected to when the feed roller 202 is stopped.Further, if the feed roller 202 is operated by receiving transmissionfrom another drive using a clutch, the controller 150 calculates thesheet feed distance with a time from when the straddling jam is detectedto when the feed roller 202 is stopped.

If the remaining sheet sensor 401 is used as another means, and a timewhen the sheet jam occurs and the feed roller 202 is stopped isconverted from a time when the straddling jammed sheet P has passedthrough the remaining sheet sensor 401, the controller 150 calculatescan obtain a sheet stop position from the remaining sheet sensor 401 andcalculate a moving amount (pull amount) of the straddling jammed sheetP. The moving amount of the straddling jammed sheet P can be calculatedwith a total of a defined moving amount A and a moving amount a even inthe conversion from the feed roller 102 or the conversion from theremaining sheet sensor 401. Then, the controller 150 calculates thesheet feed distance from when stop of the straddling jammed sheet P isdetermined in the remaining sheet sensor 401. The sheet feeding tray 201is slid to an upstream side in a sheet feeding direction indicated byarrow B in FIG. 12 by a tray drive motor 603 by the controller 150, by afeeding distance corresponding to the moving amount, and the straddlingjammed sheet P is removed. Accordingly, the straddling jammed sheetremoval processing is automatically executed without generating a sheetresidual by the remaining sheet.

Next, a straddling jammed sheet removal processing operation in thesheet feeding device according to variation 3 of the present embodimentis described according to the operation flow of FIG. 13. When feeding ofthe sheet P is started in FIG. 13, the sheet feeding tray 201 of FIG. 12is locked by a lock solenoid 604 not to be pulled out in a frontdirection (steps S201 and S202). When a sheet jam occurs, drive of thefeed roller 202 is stopped, and the feeding of the sheet P is stopped(steps S203 and S204). When the straddling jam is determined with theremaining sheet sensor 401 (YES in step S205, and step S206), thecontroller 150 calculates the moving amount of the sheet feeding tray201 from the stop position of the jammed sheet P (step S207). Then, anarm-swing control cam 205 is switched, and the straddling jammed sheet Pis pressed by a sheet pressing arm 203 (step S208). Then, the tray drivemotor 603 is driven by the controller 150, and the sheet feeding tray201 is slid to the upstream side in the sheet feeding directionindicated by arrow B in FIG. 12, by the calculated moving amount of thesheet feeding tray. The straddling jammed sheet P is pulled out througha sheet feeding port 500 a of an apparatus body 500 (steps S209 andS210).

Following that, the arm-swing control cam 205 is switched, and thepressing to the jammed sheet P by the sheet pressing arm 203 iscancelled (step S211). Then, the tray drive motor 603 is driven by thecontroller 150, and the sheet feeding tray 201 is slid to a downstreamside in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 12until a first position sensor 601 detects the sheet feeding tray 201,and the sheet feeding tray 201 is returned to a position where the feedis fed to the apparatus body 500 (step S212, YES in step S213, and stepS214). Accordingly, the straddling jammed sheet P is accommodated insidethe sheet feeding tray 201.

Following that, the lock is cancelled by the lock solenoid 604 so thatthe sheet feeding tray 201 can be pulled out in the front directionalong a pair of second guide rails 201 g (step S215). When thestraddling jam is not determined with the remaining sheet sensor 401 instep S205, the controller 150 determines that a sheet jam other than thestraddling jam has occurred, that is, a sheet jam has occurred in adifferent place from a sheet feed path between the sheet feeding tray201 and the apparatus body 500 (NO in step S205 and step S216).Therefore, the straddling jammed sheet removal processing isautomatically executed without generating a sheet residual by theremaining sheet.

Variation 4

Next, another variation (hereinafter, this variation is referred to as“variation 4”) of a sheet feeding device according to the presentembodiment is described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a straddling jammedsheet removal processing operation in the sheet feeding device accordingto variation 4 of the present embodiment. When feeding of a sheet P isstarted in FIG. 14, a sheet feeding tray 201 of FIG. 12 is locked by alock solenoid 604 not to be pulled out in a front direction along a pairof second guide rails 201 g (steps S301 and S302). When a sheet jam ofthe sheet P occurs, drive of a feed roller 202 is stopped, and thefeeding of the sheet P is stopped (steps S303 and S304). When thestraddling jam is determined with a remaining sheet sensor 401 (YES instep S305, and step S306), an arm-swing control cam 205 is switched, andthe straddling jammed sheet P is pressed by a sheet pressing arm 203from above (step S307). Then, the sheet feeding tray 201 is slid to anupstream side in a sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow B in FIG.12 by a tray drive motor 603 by a control unit until the remaining sheetsensor 401 does not detect the sheet feeding tray 201 (step S308 and NOin step S309). Further, the tray drive motor 603 is driven by thecontroller 150, and the sheet feeding tray 201 is slid to the upstreamside in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow B in FIG. 12, bya defined moving amount A, and is then stopped. The straddling jammedsheet P is then pulled out through a sheet feeding port 500 a of anapparatus body 500 (steps S310 and S311).

Following that, the arm-swing control cam 205 is switched, and thepressing to the straddling jammed sheet P by the sheet pressing arm 203is cancelled (step S312). Then, the tray drive motor 603 is driven bythe controller 150. The sheet feeding tray 201 is moved to a downstreamside in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 12until a first position sensor 601 detects the sheet feeding tray 201,and the sheet feeding tray 201 is returned to a position where the sheetis fed to the apparatus body 500 (step S313, YES in step S314, and stepS315). Accordingly, the straddling jammed sheet P is accommodated in thesheet feeding tray 201. The lock is cancelled by the lock solenoid 604so that the sheet feeding tray 201 can be pulled out in the frontdirection along the pair of second guide rails 201 g (step S316). Whenthe straddling jam is not determined with the remaining sheet sensor 401in step S305, the controller 150 determines that a sheet jam other thanthe straddling jam has occurred, that is, a sheet jam has occurred in adifferent place from a sheet feed path between the sheet feeding tray201 and the apparatus body 500 (NO in step S305 and step S317).Therefore, the straddling jammed sheet removal processing isautomatically executed without generating a sheet residual by theremaining sheet. Further, the moving amount to pull the sheet feedingtray to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction is smaller thanthe example and the variations 1 to 3, depending on a stop position ofthe straddling jammed sheet, and a time required for the straddlingjammed sheet removal processing can be shortened.

The above-described embodiment is an example, and exerts a specificeffect in each of the aspects below.

(Aspect A)

In a sheet feeding device, such as the sheet feeding device 200,including a sheet feeding tray, such as the sheet feeding tray 201, thataccommodates a sheet, such as the sheet P, a first moving assembly, suchas the first guide rail 201 c, that enables the sheet feeding tray to bemovable in a sheet feeding direction, and a second moving assembly, suchas the second guide rail 201 g, that enables the sheet feeding tray tobe movable in a direction intersecting with the sheet feeding directionare included. According to the present aspect, during movement of thesheet feeding tray by the first moving assembly, a jammed sheetremaining on a sheet feed path (hereinafter, the jammed sheet isreferred to as straddling jammed sheet) is held in the sheet feedingtray by an operator or a holder in a state of straddling the sheetfeeding tray and an image forming apparatus, so that the straddlingjammed sheet becomes in conjunction with the movement of the sheetfeeding tray. Then, by moving the sheet feeding tray such that a leadingend portion of the straddling jammed sheet at a downstream side in thesheet feeding direction is moved to an upstream side in the sheetfeeding direction with respect to a boundary of the image formingapparatus and the sheet feeding tray, using the first moving assembly,the state in which the sheet straddles the sheet feeding tray and theimage forming apparatus can be cancelled. Therefore, by moving the sheetfeeding tray to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction withrespect to a position where the sheet is fed to the image formingapparatus, using the first moving assembly, before moving the sheetfeeding tray in the direction intersecting with the sheet feedingdirection, using the second moving assembly, the sheet can be placed notto be superimposed on the image forming apparatus as viewed from thedirection intersecting with the sheet feeding direction. Following that,by moving the sheet feeding tray to the direction intersecting with thesheet feeding direction, using the second moving assembly, the sheet canbe pulled out without being in contact with the image forming apparatus.For example, the sheet feeding tray is moved in the directionintersecting with the sheet feeding direction, using the second movingassembly, in a state where the sheet feeding tray, which has been movedto the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction with respect to theposition where the sheet is fed to the image forming apparatus, is keptas it is. The sheet at that time can be pulled out together with thesheet feeding tray that holds the sheet by the operator or the holder,without being in contact with the image forming apparatus. Further, forexample, the sheet feeding tray in the state of being moved to theupstream side in the sheet feeding direction with respect to theposition where the sheet is fed to the image forming apparatus isreturned to the position where the sheet is fed to the image formingapparatus, using the first moving assembly. At this time, for example,by cancelling the hold to the sheet feeding tray of the sheet by theoperator or the holder and making the sheet freely movable, the sheet isrelatively moved with respect to the movement of the sheet feeding trayand is accommodated in the sheet feeding tray. The sheet feeding tray inthe state is moved in the direction intersecting with the sheet feedingdirection, using the second moving assembly. At that time, the sheet isaccommodated in the sheet feeding tray, and can be pulled out withoutbeing in contact with the image forming apparatus. Therefore, thestraddling jammed sheet can be removed without being torn, andprocessing work to remove the torn sheet is eliminated, and work totreat another failure caused by the torn sheet can be eliminated.Therefore, the sheet jam processing work can be simplified. Further,according to the present aspect, a space in which the sheet feeding trayis pulled out in the direction intersecting with the sheet feedingdirection, using the second moving assembly, exists at a front side in ashort direction of the image forming apparatus having a long plan shape.Therefore, the image forming apparatus is not larger than a conventionalconfiguration in which the space in which the sheet feeding tray ispulled in the sheet feeding direction exists at a front side in the longdirection of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the straddlingjammed sheet can be pulled out of the image forming apparatus withoutbeing torn while an increase in a size of the device is suppressed,whereby the sheet jam processing work can be simplified.

(Aspect B)

In (Aspect A), a holder, such as the sheet pressing arm 203, is includedthat holds the sheet in the sheet feeding tray so that the sheet ismovable together with the sheet feeding tray at least during movement ofthe sheet feeding tray by the first moving assembly. According to thepresent aspect, by causing the sheet feeding tray to hold the straddlingjammed sheet by the holder, during movement of the sheet feeding tray bythe first moving assembly, the effort to press the straddling jammedsheet by the operator can be obviated, and the straddling jammed sheetcan reliably held in the sheet feeding tray, and can be stably pulledout in conjunction with the movement of the sheet feeding tray.

(Aspect C)

In (Aspect B), after the sheet feeding tray is moved using the firstmoving assembly to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction withrespect to a boundary of the sheet feeding tray and the image formingapparatus to which the sheet is fed, the holder cancels holding of thesheet to the sheet feeding tray and a stopper restricts movement of thesheet to a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction. The sheetfeeding tray is moved using the first moving assembly to the downstreamside in the sheet feeding direction such that the sheet is accommodatedin the sheet feeding tray, and then the sheet feeding tray is moved inthe direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction using thesecond moving assembly. According to the present aspect, the straddlingjammed sheet moved to the upstream side in the sheet feeding directionwith respect to the image forming apparatus is accommodated in the sheetfeeding tray. The sheet feeding tray is moved in the directionintersecting with the sheet feeding direction and the sheet can be takenout of the image forming apparatus together with the sheet feeding tray.Accordingly, the straddling jammed sheet can be removed without beingtorn. Therefore, removal of the torn sheet and treatment of anotherfailure caused by the torn sheet are eliminated, and the sheet jamprocessing work can be simplified.

(Aspect D)

In (Aspect C), the holder includes a pressor, such as the sheet pressingarm 203, to press the sheet from above. According to the present aspect,the straddling jammed sheet can be made movable together with the sheetfeeding tray with the simple configuration.

(Aspect E)

In (Aspect A) to (Aspect D), a sensor, such as the remaining sheetsensor 401, is included that detects the sheet stopped on a sheet feedpath, and a controller, such as the controller 150, prompts processingof removing the sheet on determination that the sheet exists on thesheet feed path when the sheet feeding tray is moved in the directionintersecting with the sheet feeding direction. The controller moves thesheet feeding tray in the direction intersecting with the sheet feedingdirection using the second moving assembly on determination, based on adetection result of the sensor, that the sheet does not exist on thesheet feed path when the sheet feeding tray is moved in the directionintersecting with the sheet feeding direction. According to the presentaspect, when the sheet jam occurs, the operator can be prevented fromwrongly moving the sheet feeding tray in the direction intersecting withthe sheet feeding direction.

(Aspect F)

In (Aspect A) to (Aspect E), the first moving assembly includes a drivesource such as the tray drive motor 603. According to the presentaspect, when the sheet jam occurs, the jammed sheet can be automaticallyremoved from the image forming apparatus without bothering the operator.

(Aspect G)

In (Aspect A) to (Aspect F), a restrictor, such as the lock solenoid604, is included that restricts movement of the sheet feeding tray inthe direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction. When thesheet jam occurs in the image forming apparatus, the movement of thesheet feeding tray in the direction intersecting with the sheet feedingdirection is restricted by the restrictor,. According to the presentaspect, the sheet feeding tray can be prevented from being wrongly movedin the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction, and thestraddling jammed sheet can be prevented from being torn.

(Aspect H)

In (Aspect A) to (Aspect G), a controller, such as the controller 150,is included that calculates a moving amount of the sheet feeding tray tothe upstream side in the sheet feeding direction to remove the sheetbased on positional information of the sheet existing on the sheet feedpath. According to the present aspect, by moving the sheet feeding trayto the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction, by the movingamount calculated by the controller, unnecessary movement of the sheetfeeding tray can be suppressed, and a time require for the straddlingjammed sheet removal processing can be shortened.

(Aspect I)

In (Aspect A) to (Aspect H), on determination, based on the detectionresult of the sensor, that a sheet jam has occurred in a place otherthan the sheet feed path when the sheet does not exist on the sheet feedpath, a controller, such as the controller 150, prompts processing ofremoving the jammed sheet in the place. According to the preset aspect,by prompting the removal processing of the jammed sheet in that place,when the place of the sheet jam is a place other than the sheet feedpath, the operator can perform appropriate removal processing of thejammed sheet.

(Aspect J)

In an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeder that feeds asheet to an image forming unit, the sheet feeding device according to(Aspect A) to (Aspect I) is included as the sheet feeder. According tothe present aspect, an image forming apparatus that can improvesimplification of processing work to remove a jammed sheet when a sheetjam occurs on a sheet feed path in a state where the sheet straddles thesheet feeding tray and an apparatus body.

Numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in lightof the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, withinthe scope of the above teachings, the present disclosure may bepracticed otherwise than as specifically described herein. With someembodiments having thus been described, it will be obvious that the samemay be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the scope of the present disclosure and appended claims,and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scopeof the present disclosure and appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sheet feeding device comprising: a sheet feeding tray to accommodate a sheet; a first moving assembly to move the sheet feeding tray in a sheet feeding direction; and a second moving assembly to move the sheet feeding tray in a direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction.
 2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a holder to hold the sheet in the sheet feeding tray so that the sheet is movable together with the sheet feeding tray at least while the sheet feeding tray moves using the first moving assembly.
 3. The sheet feeding device according to claim 2, further comprising a stopper to restrict movement of the sheet, wherein, after the sheet feeding tray moves using the first moving assembly to an upstream side in the sheet feeding direction with respect to a boundary of the sheet feeding tray and an image forming apparatus to which the sheet is fed, the holder cancels holding of the sheet to the sheet feeding tray and the stopper restricts movement of the sheet to a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction, the sheet feeding tray moves using the first moving assembly to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction such that the sheet is accommodated in the sheet feeding tray, and then the sheet feeding tray moves in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction, using the second moving assembly.
 4. The sheet feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the holder includes a pressor to press the sheet from above.
 5. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising: a sensor to detect the sheet stopped on a sheet feed path; and a controller to determine whether the sheet exists on the sheet feed path, based on a detection result of the sensor, wherein the controller prompts processing of removing the sheet, on determination that the sheet exists on the sheet feed path when the controller controls the sheet feeding tray to move in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction, and wherein the controller moves the sheet feeding tray in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction using the second moving assembly on determination that the sheet does not exist on the sheet feed path when the controller controls the sheet feeding tray to move in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction.
 6. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the first moving assembly includes a drive source.
 7. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a restrictor to restrict movement of the sheet feeding tray in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction, wherein, when a sheet jam occurs in an image forming apparatus, the movement of the sheet feeding tray in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction is restricted by the restrictor.
 8. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a controller to calculate a moving amount of the sheet feeding tray to an upstream side in the sheet feeding direction to remove the sheet, based on positional information of the sheet existing on a sheet feed path.
 9. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising: a sensor to detect the sheet stopped on a sheet feed path; and a controller to determine whether the sheet exists on the sheet feed path, based on a detection result of the sensor, wherein, on determination that the sheet does not exist on the sheet feed path when the controller controls the sheet feeding tray to move in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction, the controller determines that a sheet jam has occurred in a place other than the sheet feed path and prompts processing of removing the sheet.
 10. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit to form an image on a sheet; and the sheet feeding device according to claim 1 to feed the sheet to the image forming unit. 